Men's Basketball 11/24/2021 11:46:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Hosts Cameron

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma men's basketball team is scheduled to host Cameron Saturday afternoon at Hamilton Field House. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Central Oklahoma is 3-1 after two weeks of play in the new 2021-22 season. The Bronchos started 3-0 before a setback in Texas last weekend. UCO beat Northwestern Oklahoma State and Mary on back-to-back nights to open the season before blowing out NAIA Jarvis Christian in the middle of last week.

Cameron is just 1-1 this season. The Aggies of Lawton, Oklahoma have not played since opening weekend two weeks ago. Cameron postponed three games due to health & safety protocols and will come to Edmond Saturday for its first live action in 14 days.

"We're looking to get back on track after not playing well at Midwestern State last weekend," UCO head men's basketball coach Bob Hoffman said. "We've played really well at times this season and we're hopeful that we can make that the norm. Cameron, even though they haven't played in a couple of weeks, they're a good team and they'll be coming after us. We have to be focused and ready for it."

Central Oklahoma was averaging 90 points per game after three games played this season and is still at 83.8 per contest heading into Saturday's matchup with Cameron.

The Bronchos shoot 48.4 percent from the floor overall and 37.4 percent from behind the 3-point line. UCO averages 9.3 made 3-pointers per game. Central also shoots 76.3 percent from the free-throw line and averages 14.5 made free-throws per game.

Isaiah Wade is Central's leading scorer and rebounder so far this season. Wade averages 17.8 points per game and 10.3 rebounds per game. He's one of just two players in the MIAA averaging a double-double. Fort Hays State's Jared Vitztum has 37 points and 37 rebounds in three games played this season, an average of 12.3 for both.

Wade is making 63.8 percent of his shots through four games played. The senior forward is a combined 30-for-47 overall and is 3-for-3 from behind the arc. Wade also adds an 8-for-11 mark from the free-throw line.

Jaden Wells, a second-year freshman from Texas, is the team's second-leading scorer at 12.8 points per game. Wells has a team-high 12 made 3-pointers in four games and is shooting 46.2 percent from behind the arc. Wells is shooting 42.1 percent overall and 87.5 percent from the free-throw line. He also averages 2.2 steals per game and 3.5 rebounds per game.

Camryn Givens gives Central Oklahoma three averaging double figures on offense. Givens, a fourth-year junior from Texas, is averaging 12.3 points per game through four games and that includes a rare scoreless outing when Central beat Jarvis Christian 112-62.

Givens is shooting 52.9 percent from the floor and has a team-high in both makes and attempts from the free-throw line (11-for-14). He also averages 5.3 rebounds per game.

Callen Haydon, also a fourth-year junior, is the engine that makes the Bronchos run. The El Reno, Oklahoma native averages 9.8 points per game and 5.8 assists per game, as well as three rebounds per game.

Haydon is shooting 37.1 percent overall, 26.7 percent from outside, and 90 percent from the free-throw line. He also averages one steal per game.

Conner Calavan (8.5) and Preston Aymond (8.0) are both chipping in on the offense end. Calavan is second on the team with five made 3-pointers in just two games played. Aymond is second on the team with 23 rebounds, 5.8 per game, through four games played.

Jalyn Turner (5.3), Davon Richardson (4.8) and Carson Calavan (4.5) also play key roles in Central's offense.

UCO defensively is allowing 71.8 points per game, with opponents shooting 42.4 percent against the Bronchos in four games. Central concedes only a 32 percent rate from behind the arc, with opponents making an even 10 threes per game against UCO.

Cameron beat Colorado State-Pueblo in its season opener before falling to UC-Colorado Springs the next day. Cameron averages 70 points per game after the two contests.

Former Broncho Colt Savage is the team's leading scorer, averaging 15.5 points per game after two outings. Savage, who spent one and a half seasons at Central before transferring, is 10-for-17 overall, 7-for-11 from behind the arc, and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.

Connor Slater (12.0) and Brock Schreiner (10.0) are also averaging double figures for the Aggies. Slater is the team's leading rebounder too at 7.0 per game.

Central Oklahoma and Cameron have been playing basketball for nearly 100 years. The Bronchos own a 61-36 advantage in 97 all-time meetings dating back to 1929. Cameron did win the most recent meeting, in 2019-20, which snapped a 19-game win streak in the series by the Bronchos.

Central Oklahoma will hit the road again next weekend as the Bronchos open conference play. UCO will play its first MIAA contests of the 2021-22 season at Missouri Southern on Thursday, Dec. 2 and at Pittsburg State Saturday, Dec. 4.

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Players Mentioned

#13 Carson Calavan: G; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#33 Camryn Givens: F; 6' 6"; Junior

#10 Jalyn Turner: F; 6' 6"; Sophomore

#2 Isaiah Wade: F; 6' 7"; Senior

#1 Davon Richardson: G; 6' 3"; Freshman

#24 Jaden Wells: G; 6' 1"; Freshman

#3 Conner Calavan: G; 6' 5"; Freshman

#14 Callen Haydon: G; 5' 11"; Junior

#23 Preston Aymond: F; 6' 7"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#13 Carson Calavan
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: G

#33 Camryn Givens
: 6' 6"; Junior
: F

#10 Jalyn Turner
: 6' 6"; Sophomore
: F

#2 Isaiah Wade
: 6' 7"; Senior
: F

#1 Davon Richardson
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: G

#24 Jaden Wells
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: G

#3 Conner Calavan
: 6' 5"; Freshman
: G

#14 Callen Haydon
: 5' 11"; Junior
: G

#23 Preston Aymond
: 6' 7"; Freshman
: F